Stopper for ampoules and the like



July 2, 1957 C. B. ROBERTS STOPPER FOR AMPOULES AND THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 19, 1954 ATTORNEYS July 2, 1957 c. B. ROBERTS STOPPER FOR AMPOULES AND THE LIKE 2 sheets-sheet 2 Filed April 19, 1954 I N VEN TOR ATTORNEYS United States Patent O The invention relates to' container; closures, and more especially to stoppers for ampoulescontaining pharmaceutical .mataiflaintmd d, QLhYPdI P inj It is the usual practice to package pharmaceutical prep arations intended fon hypodermic. injection in ampoules 1 s t n -.-nnds irab e. r aq o s. not; attributable 10,1116 iq ntentspf aatnps e wh n nh ma a s o ra d: are 1 2 ,h dermiq r .m t P t e .Ql

.- sl a ni ian ows. t e.hyn mian erinp erc the rubber diaphragm, often tears O 1.uts oif tiny particles of rubber which enter the solution or suspension within the ampoule.andmay.thenbedrawn into the-syringe and -:administered .to,the..patientr along. with the intended-:med-

:icine. .Rubber. is .such a. foreign-..substancethatv .it can -.cause..considerablediscomfort andserious disturbance of the system.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an 3 arrangement which avoids the disadvantages of the prior art.

Another object of the invention is to provide an arrangement which is normally tightly sealed, but which can be manipulated so that fluid can be withdrawn from the interior of an ampoule without the necessity of piercing a piece of rubber.

Still another object of the invention is to provide such an arrangement in which the opening through which the liquid is withdrawn can be again tightly closed after the withdrawal, so as to prevent contamination of the material remaining in the ampoule.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear more fully from the following description especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which form a part thereof.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 shows partly in vertical cross-section an ampoule provided with a stopper embodying one form of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross-section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig.1 of the top portion of the bottle with the opening closed;

Fig. 4 is a cross-section on the line 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 shows in vertical 'crossasection a modified form of stopper;

Fig. 6 is a top plan view thereof;

Fig. 7 is a side elevation showing the parts of the stopper of Fig. 5 in closed position, partly in section;

Fig. 8 shows in top plan view, partly in section, a modified form of stopper in open position;

Fig. 9 is a top plan view thereof in closed position;

Fig. 10 shows the stopper arrangement of Figs. 8 and 9 in side elevation;

Fig. 11 is a top plan view, partly in section, of a further modification in open position;

Fig. 12 is a similar view of the stopper of Fig. 11 in closed position;

i Patented July 2, 5

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2 Fig 13' shows'in top plan View, partly in section, another-modified;- form of stopper in open position;

Fig. 14 is a-plan-viewof the same arrangement -in closed position; 5 *Fig. 15 is a side elevation of the stopperof Figs-. 13

and 14 in closed position;

Fig. 161's a top plan view of a-further modification of the' stopper; and Fig. 17 is a similar viewof the stopper of Fig, 1-6 in closed position.

' ,In; the form of-jhe invention shown inFigs. 14, an ampoule or other container 2 of glass or the-like is provided with a neck 4 having an outward; flange 6 at its ---top. 'Fittedwithin this neck is a stopper jof rubber or other suitable elastic =m at erialhaving a stem Sand an *outward flange -10 adapted to rest on flange 6;'thestern 8 fitting tightly-within the neck 4. A metal-ring -12 flanged at top and bottom holds; the stopper in position -05 the flange 6.

3 The stopper provided with a normallyopen central ff hole: 14." Embedded'within the stopperis a rnember;16 which may be-ofany suitable rigidfrnaterialsuchas plastic or metali This member extends beyond one side wall-of the stopper, at its outer end, while its inner end terminates just"short 'of;the hole- 14, so as to be out of contact -wi ththeinterior-of this hole.

Flange .6 has its innerwall 18 of generally square-shape, the Si de S" Ofthe -squar e,--ho wever, having =s li ght curvature and the --corners{ being rounded. In the -center a of each of-ithe side-walls of the square is a slight -depression 20.

This-arrangemenhoperates asafollowsz IWhen the partsare in theposition shown in Figs. Land 2, the hole 14 is open. However, if the stopper is turned with respect to the bottle, as by turning the metal cap 12 to which the rubber of the stopper is secured by welding or the like. Member 16 will ride around in the space beneath the flange 10, engaging the inside wall 18 of flange 6, and will be pushed inwardly by cam action to the position shown in Figs. 3 and 4. This inward movement of the member 16 so deforms the rubber of the stopper that it closes the hole 14 tightly, and thus seals the material in the ampoule. Since the member 16 engages in the depression 20, it is securely held against accidental displacement in either direction which might allow opening of the hole 14.

It is thus possible to open the ampoule very readily, to insert a needle through the hole 14 withdrawing such of the contents asrnay be desired and thereafter to close the holeagain as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

Figs. 5-7 show a modified form of the invention. The rubber stopper 22 is provided with a central opening 14 therethrough, and is held on top of flange 6 by a metal cap 12. Embedded in the rubber, but terminating short of the hole 14, is a plunger 24 having a head 26 connected to it by a thin neck 28. Cap 12 is provided with a key-hole shaped slot having an enlarged portion 30 large enough for the plunger 24 to pass therethrough and a narrow portion 32 capable of receiving neck 28.

In this arrangement, the rubber lstopper is not fixedly secured to the cap 12. The opening 14 may be closed by pushing in the plunger 24 to deform the rubber, and may be held in closed position by then turning the cap on the stopper so as to bring slot 32 over neck 28 (Fig. 7) so as to hold the plunger in its inward position.

In the modification of Figs. 8-10, the stopper 34 with its central opening 14 is likewise held in position by a cap 12. Embedded in the stopper is a strip 36 of metal or other rigid material which fits at one end through an opening in the cap, while its other end fits through a slot 38 having enlargements at each end. When the parts are in the position shown in Figs. 8 and 10, the hole 14 is open. By pushing down on the end of the member 36,

. it into the left hand enlargement of'slot 38.'

- 14 is open.

j 3 however, and shifting it to the left (Fig. it will assume the position shown in Fig. 9 in which it closes the hole 14. It may be held in this closed position by raising Fig. 11 shows a further modification in which the stopper 40 has a central stem 42 around the hole 14 and a slot 44 therethrough. Closing member 46 has an enlarged head 48 with an opening of generally tapering shape. a

With the parts in the position shown in Fig. 11, hole 14 is open. By pushing inwardly part 46, however, to the position shown in Fig. 12, the'narrower part of the opening in head 48 asserts inward pressure on stem 42 so as to close the hole 14. In/this latter position, the part 46 is held bythe shape of the end of slot 44, having passed the narrowest portion'of this slot.

Figs. 13-15 show another modification, in which the v stopper 50 has embedded in it a piece of stiff wire or ro-d 52 formed in a figure 8, with legs 54 extending through the cap 12. Thiscap is provided with a slot 56 having downward extensions at its ends.

With the parts in the position shown in Fig. 13, hole shown in Fig; 14, and moved into the downward projections of slot 56, as shown in Fig. 15, the central bight of the figure 8 member will be squeezed shut and will 4 as to close the hole. Projection 66 resists release of the bar 60 from closed position.

While I have described herein some embodiments of my invention, I wish it to be understood that I do not in tend to limit myself thereby except within the scope of the claim hereto or hereinafter appended.

I claim:

In combination with a container having a neck, a stopper of elastic material in said neck having a normally open hole therethrough, a rigid member embedded in said stopper and extending substantially radially thereof and projecting beyond one side wall thereof, said neck having parts in the same plane perpendicular to the axis of the neck, and in which plane said member is located, at different distances from said axis to form a cam surface on its inner wall engageable with the projecting portion of the member to push the member inwardly so as to deform the elastic material and close said hole, when said If legs 54 are spread apart, however, as

, stopper is turned in said hole.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,244,205 Heck Oct. 23, 1917 1,619,770 Stewart Mar. 1, 1927 1,788,795 Hoban Jan. 13, 1931 2,092,401 Miller Sept. 7, 1937 2,115,035 Morgan Apr. 26, 1938 2,608,972 Chrigstrom Sept. 2, 1952 2,662,669 Schmidt Dec. 15, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 22,755 Great Britain of 1895 387,446 Great Britain Feb. 9, 1933 973,069 France Sept. 6, 1950 876,980 Germany May 18, 1953 

